Bubby' s first birthday has come and gone and with the passing of the one year mark, I have also passed my breastfeeding goal. Why one year? I guess because that's what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends - breastfeeding for at least 12 months and as long thereafter as desired. Also, at one year, I could just wean him directly to cow's milk. It seemed like the logical next step for my growing little boy. But I'm having second thoughts about weaning just yet.
I have said in the past that the benefits of breastfeeding, to both Bubby and I, far outweigh the minor inconveniences that breastfeeding entails. And now, there is really no inconvenience at all, and yet still all the benefits!
So, I still haven't started the weaning process and I'm not sure when I will. Currently, the Bub's only nurses four times a day - when he wakes in the morning, before lunch, late afternoon, and at bedtime. Long gone are the marathon nursing sessions. Now he only nurses for ten to fifteen minutes max. Quick and easy, which makes continuing to breastfeed no big deal.
Recently, I learned that The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would breastfeed until two I would have said no way, but now I'm thinking it is a possibility.
I had the same one year goal with Cakes and I ended up nursing her for eighteen months. What's another six months?
I try to do what is best for my children and cow's milk is in no way better than my milk. Why shouldn't I continue to give my baby boy my "super" milk?
If you breastfed or are breastfeeding, how long until you weaned or plan to wean?
This makes my life easier!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
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11 comments:
woo hoo! Awesome mama! :)
WOOT WOOT!!
I nursed for 18mths with my son and 13mths with my daughter. My daughter pretty much weaned herself, but she is that type of kid. She potty trained herself in a couple days a few weeks ago.
oops, forgot to tell you I am stopping by from SITS. =D
My son is 14mo old and still breastfeeding. We do about 3-4 times a day. I'm not sure when we'll wean. My plan is to take it one month at a time and see how he feels about it. What will likely happen is that I'll get pregnant and my milk supply will reduce and he'll lose interest. But until then I like milkies with my boy.
I was working full time during all three kids and their breastfeeding stages. My first, I breastfed until he was 9 months old. 2nd until she was 1 and 3rd until she was about 18 months.
It was easier as I had a double breast pump at work for the last one. and I really enjoyed our nighttime routine of snuggling.
You are an awesome Mama! Go with it as long as you can.
I think that's great!! I nursed my daughter until she was two. It was really hard sometimes to have the will to go that long, because she has a dairy allergy which meant that I couldn't have any dairy either, but I'm so glad I did! It feels really good to know that I didn't give up! Not that I think other mom's who nursed less "gave up", but that was just my particular goal, and it feels great!
P.S. Found you through SITS!
Thanks for visiting my blog & I've now discovered yours and will become a follower!
I failed miserably at breastfeeding my twins and ironically posted about it recently. My twins were premature and it was so hard to get them to latch and stay latched. With the constant nursing and on again/off again, I developed painful lesions and even steroid creams did not help. I eventually decided to pump exclusively and I gave that up around the 3-month mark. It was too hard (or perhaps I was too lazy). I often daydream about having a singleton and being a marathon breastfeeder! Kudos to you and I think it's great!
stopping by from erin's blog-the mother load and just wanted to say WAY TO GO! i nursed my twins (who will be 1 yr old next wednesday) up until two weeks ago. they basically self-weaned as i was anxious to continue nursing for more than their first year because of the success we had with it. now, i'm beyond bummed that they are totally over it! anyway, great blog!
I know I'm late in commenting on this, but the topic is near and dear to me. I nursed my daughter until about 22 months, and I might have continued until 24 mos (she showed no interest in stopping!) if I hadn't become pregnant and just felt I had to stop. The only way I could stop was by leaving her with her grandmother for five days, so we could quit "cold turkey". I know this might seem cold, but really I was too weak-willed to deny her so for me it was the best way. Now my son is about to be one year old next week, and I am seriously considering starting the process of weaning him now. Unfortunately, I raised two extremely demanding, nurse-on-demand kids, and I am dreading the whole process of separating him from his two best friends...I wish I could be disciplined enough to gradually wean, but it's so difficult.
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